Residents Complain About Buying Non-cash Ferry Tickets Often Queue, Ombudsman Asks ASDP Kupang To Expand Outlets

The Head of the RI Ombudsman for the NTT Representative Darius Beda Daton (right) in a meeting with the General Manager of ASDP Kupang Branch Ardhi Ekapaty/ANTARA

KUPANG - The Head of the Ombudsman for the Representative of the Province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Darius Beda Daton asked PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry for the Kupang Branch to add cashless ticket service outlets to break up the long queues of prospective passengers at the port.

"Many residents have complained about the non-cash ticket service because of the frequent queues, both to top up brizzi cards and at ticket purchase counters," he said when confirmed in Kupang, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 4.

He conveyed the request in a joint meeting with the General Manager of ASDP Kupang Branch, Ardhi Ekapaty, who was accompanied by Business Manager Hermin Welkis.

Beda Daton explained that the non-cash ticket service for inter-regional ferry crossings within the NTT area, which has been implemented since June 1, 2021, has resulted in many complaints coming to the NTT Ombudsman.

Residents using the service, he said, complained that they had to wait in long lines twice, namely at the card top-up booth and when printing tickets at the ticket counter.

"Therefore, it is necessary to have additional non-cash ticket service outlets so that there is no accumulation of prospective passengers at the port," he said.

Beda Daton explained that residents hope that ticket services can be designed with an online system so that prospective passengers can buy tickets anywhere without having to reprint tickets at the port counter.

The convenience that residents expect, he said, is the same as when buying plane tickets or buying electricity tokens.

"This is a reasonable expectation and not grandiose because online services have also been carried out by PT Pelni ships at this time," he said.

Beda Daton said, however, because online ticketing services have not yet been realized, ticket sales outlets can be added in various places, not only at banks but also at other third parties who can be invited to cooperate.

He hopes that the residents' complaints will serve as a reference for ASDP Kupang to make efforts to improve so that non-cash ticket services become easier, cheaper, and faster for the convenience of ship passengers.